The aim of this post is to be an information hub. A quick reference tool to help out in the Support section. It is not a comprehensive guide. Reading this post alone will require some knowledge of using both platform and router settings . For more detailed understanding and guides please use the Additional Resources provided at the bottom .

Please do not use this thread as a personal Support thread. If you are having trouble create a question in the Ghosts Support section. To obtain best results please include the following information :

· What does your in-game NAT type say (Strict, Moderate, or Open), and if applicable to your platform - what does your platform's NAT type say?

Connection Overview

NAT stands for Network Address Translation. Simply put, NAT is a technology that provides each device within your home network with a separate Internet Protocol (IP) address. An outside computer (think Ghosts server) sends and receives information with the IP address provided to you by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). From here your router acts like a local post office, sending the information to and from the device within your network. What we want is for our local post office to be efficient by sending information directly between your desired IP address and the outside computer.

Objective: To obtain Open NAT

OPEN NAT

MODERATE NAT

STRICT NAT

With an OPEN NAT type, you’re able to chat with other people, as well as join and host multiplayer games with people who have any NAT type on their network.

With a MODERATE NAT type, you’re able to chat and play multiplayer games with some people; however, you might not be able to hear or play with others, and normally you won’t be chosen as the host of a match.

With a STRICT NAT type, you’re only able to chat and play multiplayer games with people who have an OPEN NAT type. You can’t be chosen as the host of a match.

WAN stands for Wide Area Network and it is just that – a network that stretches over a large distance. For the sake of simplicity the largest WAN is the Internet.

LAN stands for Local Area Network. It is the connection of devices/platforms in a localised area such as your home, office building, college, etc.

Your LAN collects/sends data with the Internet via your modem. A router is used to send information to your various devices / platforms. Your LAN devices talk to each other via Ethernet cables, Wireless signals, etc.

Dynamic / Static IP

Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigns you with a WAN IP address. This allows your LAN network to communicate with the Internet. In the vast majority of home internet connections your ISP assigns you a dynamic WAN IP address. As the name suggest, it changes every time the lease is renewed. The lease can be changed every time you restart your modem/router. A static (doesn't change) WAN IP address can be supplied to you by your ISP. However, this costs extra and is most commonly used by customers who wish to run their own internet server. What a gamer is interested in is the nature of their LAN IP addresses.

By default a router usually assigns dynamic IP addresses to each device within the home network. This situation is no good if you wish to use port forwarding or use the DMZ function of your router. Once a dynamic IP address changes it will render any port forwarding or DMZ functionality you have assigned to a platform useless. So what do you do? You create a Static IP address, within your LAN, for your platform. A static IP will maintain the configuration between your platform and router.

A static IP can be created manually. Please use the Additional Resources at the bottom of the page for instructions.

A lot of routers now days have a DHCP reservation function in which you can specify the lease duration. If enabled the DHCP will automatically assign IP addresses to all the devices within your LAN. This is user friendly; however make sure that the lease time for the routers DHCP is set to “forever” to make it Static.

Port Configuration methods:

To give the best chance of connectivity between your platform and the game we need to open up the necessary ports in your router. This allows for the game data to transfer smoothly. Not only does this help you to connect with other gamers, it helps other gamers connect with you.

The following is a basic understanding of router port configuration methods.

uPnp

Universal Plug and Play is an automatic port configuration of your router. In essence, your router talks with your platform / game to work out which ports need to be opened or triggered. It can work very well, although sometimes it does not pick up all the ports you need. By far the easiest method of port configuration.

Port Forwarding

Manual configuration of your router. You are telling your router which ports need to be opened for a specific IP address.

DMZ

The Demilitarized zone (DMZ) of your router opens up all ports to the IP address specified – except for those that have been port forwarded. Using the DMZ of your router should be considered a last resort, as it exposes the specified device to the internet.

Setting up your router’s port configuration -- follow these steps:

Step 1:

Set up a Static IP for your platform (either through your routers DHCP or manually)

Step 2:

Enable uPnp on your router (default setting on most routers is enabled).

Restart your router and platform. If you achieve Open Nat – job done. If not – continue.

Restart your router and platform. If you achieve Open Nat – Job done. If not - continue.

Step 4:

DMZ. Disable port forwards to your platform. Go into your router and place the Static IP of your platform into the DMZ. Press Apply

Restart your router and platform.

Notes / Reminders:

Always remember to power cycle routers and platforms after changes are applied.

If you use the DHCP reservation of your router make sure that the lease is set to “forever”.

uPnp is the easiest method, manual Port Forwarding requires you to get to know your router, using the DMZ of your router should be considered a last resort.

Information I have read from "tech gurus" state that for best gaming results manual Port Forwarding is preferred.

Do not place an IP address into the DMZ of the router while also having Ports Forwarded to that same address.

Having two consoles operating on the same home network will cause competition for ports - common symptoms are being able to access multiplayer on one, while the other cannot connect. Make sure you give each console a separate Static IP.

First method: Use uPnp.

Second method: Some routers are able to have Port Triggering setup - consult your manual.

Third method: Use Port Forwarding for one console,,, place the other console into the DMZ.

Using uPnp and Port Forwarding together may cause conflict. If you are experiencing unstable NAT using both then you should disable uPnp. Please note by disabling uPnp you may encounter difficulty using PC services such as Skype. Easy fix - just re-enable uPnp for when you need it.

Port Numbers required for platform and Ghosts (Port Forwarding)

Every platform has specific ports needed for the communication of data. In addition to this game developers may use extra ports for communication specific to the game itself.

A link to creating a static IP. Just select your platform and follow. Also provides understanding of Dynamic vs Static IP. (For Xbox One and PS4 users – the principles are the same as old-gen consoles, just different interfaces)

I use to have a Netgear router with the option for Open NAT filtering. Not available on all routers. Also, please be careful, Open NAT filtering may expose your LAN IP's to the internet. Make sure your PC firewalls and other virus check software (ie Kaspersky, Norton, Macefee, etc) are up and running. I am not a tech head, however, I'll only ever give advice with safety in mind.

I chose the above port configuration methods because they are the most user friendly and known. Also, Port forwarding isn't old tech - it just means that you are in control of the ports you open.

Hey man I have been looking into this and I don't see how forwarding ports would help or make sense really. You shouldn't have to forward ports at all for this game or any other modern game really.

forwarding (or opening the correct ports) is needed else you will not be able to connect to other players and games correctly, a video game console like any other network device NEEDS to be correctly set up for it to work properly.

Thanks for the Guide! But I have a Problem. The Ports for 360 and One are side by side almost the Same. Ive opened the Requiret Ports for 360. But I can't open the same ports for the Xbox One! My Router failes and saying that these ports are already opened ?! Anyone knows what I can do? The Router Iam using is the FritzBox 7212. Thanks in Advantage!

i will say i had a different experience. i have a net gear r6200 hard wired to the xbox one with unpn enabled. i went and opened all ports. next thing i had a moderate nat on ghosts but open on xbox. so i did the reboot ect ect... log on and now i had strict nat.i went into my router setting and deleted all the ports i had opened and have had open on both ever since.

do i lag? occasionally

poor bullet reg? sometimes

but over all i can deal with it, just thought i would share seeings how my was opposite.

hey im not too sure,Im on the PS4 and everything is good over here thank God..i know this stuff is frustrating but i dont think they would haveadded another port with out telling the community..im not doubting you at all i would just think they would have told us in the mean time? like i said im on ps4 so i dont know if its diffrent for xbox users but im sure they would have mentioned it..good luck my friend!

Is port 3076 for the xbox one, or 360 version? I ask because just last night, my NAT set back to Moderate. I had 3074, 88, 80, and 53 set up, and today I did the same with 3075 for the 360, and nothing has helped. I have power cycled, as well as rebooted my router, numerous times to no avail. We do have two 360s, but the 360 I am online with is the one I have always forwarded for, and never had an issue. Granted, only one 360 could get on and have an Open NAT, but that is how we wanted it. I know the xbox one recently had an update. We never use the XB1 for MP gaming. I should probably take it offline and see if the XB1 is the culprit.

I would ask though, as I state in my OP - that this thread should not be used as a support thread. As, that is what the support section is for. Reason: It sets a precedent for others to use this thread for specific help - they are better off creating their own thread so that they have the full attention required.

It doesn't change my NAT, but if I leave my iPhone near my console or controller and my phone is connected to the home wifi ... I get a lot of lag. I don't think I have all the ports forwarded for COD though.

Took me a while but I got it. I didn't even know how to access my router so there was a huge learning curve for me. Although I'm still oblivious to most of these technical terms with connectivity and setting stuff up, I won't be as intimidated next time.

I played Ghosts on the One with a moderate nat up until this week. Now its OPEN. Thank you soooo much.

To be honest, not really. On the 360 I always had an open nat. When I originally hooked up my One, I think it was moderate but there was an easy fix a friend told me.......... think it was as easy as getting a new mac address or something. As for Ghosts on the One, I just couldn't get it open. It went beyond just a router reset. I was always scared to mess with manual numbers. I thought I'ld disconnect from the internet and not be able to watch any youtube or instructions to get it back.

So I didn't really experience much connectivity issues with Ghosts. Its been very solid. The moderate nat type just bugged me. Just knowing the communication between my setup and the game is as clear as possible makes me happy.